Hairpin



H. H. STYLL.

HAIRPIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1919.

Eaten Feb. 15, W21

INVENTOR.

HH. STYLL *JITE STATE HAIBPIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application filed September 19, 1919. Serial No. 324,779. I

I '0 all w from it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY I l. STYLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hair-Pins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hair-pins and has particular reference to an improved type of hair-pin especially adapted for use in connection with an eyeglass chain or the like to prevent loss of glasses.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved construction of hair-pin which will be satisfactorily retained in the hair of the wearer and which will to a maximum degree resist accidental loosening.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pin of this character which will particularly oppose withdrawal when a pull is applied to the eyeglass chain.

Other objects and advantages of my present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific details of construction shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure I represents a view of my device applied to an eyeglass mounting.

Fig. II represents a sectional view of one form of my pin showing the locking devices in operative position.

Fig. III represents a similar view with the locking devices in inoperative position.

Fig. IV represents a fragmentary sectional view of a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. V represents a sectional view of another form thereof.

I am aware that prior to my invention attempts have been made to construct hairpins in various forms so that they will be better secured within the hair of the wearer, and realize that these attempts have included the provision of different types of prongs adapted to be projected into the hair. These structures have all however, embodied certain disadvantages in respect to the manner in which the prongs have been actuated and released, and have in effect been found quite diflicult to satisfactorily operate, as well as frequently proving ungainly and unattractive in appearance. Furthermore,while some rather complicated mechanical devices along this line have been provided, consideration has not been given to the fact that the average woman is not mechanically inclined and that, therefore, extreme simplicity of operation is necessary in order that the pin may appeal as a sales proposition.

It is, therefore, the purpose of my present invention to provide an extremely simple but eflicient device which will obviate the difficulties experienced in connection with prior art constructions, and which will firmly retain the pin in place but permit of its ready release when desired.

In the accomplishment of this result I provide preferably the hollow tube or shell member 1 of the pin, which as shown in Fig. II is provided with a sliding U-shaped member 2 having the loop portion 3 projecting above the ordinary loop in the pin and having attached thereto the eyeglass chain 4: adapted to be secured to the mounting 5. Pivoted to the lower ends of the member 2 are the prong portions 6 adapted to project inwardly through the slots or apertures 7 in the member 1 for locking engagement with the hair. It is to be par.- ticularly noted in this connection that the pin may be readily placed in the hair either with the prongs contained within the legs of the pin or projecting therefrom, as desired, on account of the angle at which the prongs are disposed, allowing them to readily slip through the hair but prevent of accidental withdrawal.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that even though the pin be inserted in the hair in closed form, as illustrated in Fig. III, a slight pull on the chain 4 will slide the member 3 upwardly and cause the prong 6 to project and engage the hair, thus resisting pulling or sliding of the pin out of the way. To release the pin so that the prongs will be entirely out of the way and all danger of their catching in the hair obviated, it is merely necessary to reach up andtake hold of the pin as the pin is grasped the loop 3 being pressed toward the main pin member 1 and forcing the shell, as will be understood by reference to Fig. III.

In Fig. IV, I have illustrated a slight modification of my invention in which the shell 1 is provided with the indentation 8 adapted to lockingly engage the indentations 9 of the sliding member 2 to positively secure the prongs in advanced or retracted position, as desired.

A further slight modification is illustrated in connection with Fig. V, in which the right hand leg is shown as provided with the ogee bends or curves 10 producing a wavy effect, aiding the main body of the pin in remaining in position within the hair, while in place of employing the U-shaped member-2 sliding within the outer shell I pass the chain 4 downwardly in the shell and have it suitably engage the lower end of the prong 6, to which there is also connected the spring 11 terminating in the button 12, the chain and other parts in this instance being, if desired, suitably threaded through the lower end of the shell and up-v ward until their upward movement is limited by the button 12, when a ring 13 may be placed through the chain to bear against the outer .face of the shell holding the spring under slight tension to retain the button 12 in position as a closure for the end of the shell. In this form of the construction the prong is normally retracted, held by the very light spring 11, but when there is a pull on the chain, as by dropping off of the glasses, the

' spring 11 is sufiiciently weak so thatthis slight pull on the chain willadvance or pro ject the prong 6 into the hair to resist pulling out the hair-pin.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it Wlll be seen that I have provided a novel and improved construction of pin particularly adapted for use in connection with an eyeglass-chain or the like, in which the prong and the flexible connection for projecting the prong when there is a strain on the flexible connection.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hairpin having a hollow portion provided with an aperture, a prong contained in the hollow portion and projectable through the aperture, a spring for normally retaining the prong in inoperative position, and a flexible connectionextending outwardly from the hollow portion of the hairpin and secured to the prong whereby strain on the connection will project the prong.

3. A device of the character described ineluding a hairpin having "a hollow leg open atone end and provided with a, pair of apertures, a prong contained within said leg and projectable through one of the apertures, a flexible connection for projecting the prong extending outwardly through the other of said apertures, a tensile retaining spring for the prong, said spring having one end connected with the prong and a cap member secured to the other end of the spring and retained in place thereby.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

Y HARRY H. STYLL. Witnesses: Y

H. K. PARSONS,

ALICE G. HASKELL. 

